Jones admitted burgling Chatila's flagship store in London's Mayfair in August 2010 at Southwark Crown Court - and wrote a letter to the judge saying that crime doesn't pay.

He said: "It leaves a trail of destruction on both sides - the victims of crime and your family."

Jones stole about £1m worth of jewellery, gems and watches from the Old Bond Street shop's display cabinets, as well as £45,000 in cash.

The family-owned firm, which owns a collection of rare and expensive gems and is popular with the world's rich and famous, was burgled over the 2010 summer bank holiday weekend, between 27 and 31 August.

The amount stolen in the Hatton Garden heist is now estimated to be £29million

John "Kenny" Collins, 77, was jailed for seven years, while Brian Reader, 78, - dubbed the "guv'nor" - was handed a jail term of six years and three months after they both admitted the offence.

Carl Wood, 60, and William "Billy the Fish" Lincoln, 61, were found guilty of conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to launder money last year after a seven-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court and are serving sentences of six and seven years respectively.

Gas fitter Hugh Doyle, 50, was found guilty of money laundering and handed a suspended prison sentence The raiders were ordered to pay back £27.5m or face a total of 28 years extra in jail at Woolwich Crown Court in January this year.

Perkins died in Belmarsh Prison in February this year after suffering a heart attack.

Graham Trembath, QC, defending, said Jones had been deeply affected after witnessing the death of Perkins.

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In a letter to the judge, Jones wrote: "I would urge any young lad who is thinking of being a thief, it doesn't work, it leave a trail of destruction on both sides - the victims of crime and your family.

"Your conscience will eat you away.

Jones, of Enfield, North London, admitted burgling Chatila between 27 and 31 August 2010.